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“There aren’t a lot of advantages before the game, the only real advantage is that it’s at Anfield. We should try to use this advantage.

“We are obviously not in the worst shape, but unfortunately Man City aren’t either. That means it will be really difficult for both teams. I’m really looking forward to it because we all love playing against the best and they are for sure in the group of the best teams in the world. I’m happy to have the opportunity.”

The last time Klopp locked horns with Pep Guardiola it was Borussia Dortmund v Bayern Munich. Guardiola led Bayern to a hat-trick of Bundesliga titles but their head-to-head record stands at four wins apiece.

“I don’t play against Pep Guardiola, our teams play against each other and they are completely different to what Bayern was or Dortmund was when we played each other,” he said.

“How Pep played with Bayern is not important any more because now he is at Man City with different players, different systems.

“Johan Cruyff started total football and Pep made it nearly perfect with his side at Barcelona. He had a big influence at Bayern, their game changed nearly completely, so he’s an outstanding manager 100%.

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“You can see it on the pitch, he is a really influential manager, and he has a clear idea. He had a fantastic career until now, with a nice start at Barcelona, really, really good at Bayern, and now he’s at City and he’s there to be successful, not to show good he is.

“That’s how we all are, we want to help our team. The Barcelona style is not possible for each team to play, it depends a lot on the players you have.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola in the stands during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Stoke City at Anfield

“If you tell a Sunday League team to try to play like Barcelona, that’s pretty difficult. There’s always a different way you have to choose and you always adapt to your players. That’s what he’s doing, and that’s what we do.”

The clash with City marks the halfway point of the season. If Liverpool triumph they will have 43 points - beating their previous best tally after 19 matches in the Premier League era which stands at 42 points in 2008/09.

However, with striker Sergio Aguero back available after suspension Klopp is wary of the threat City pose. With both teams so committed to attack, the Reds boss knows the outcome is likely to hinge on which backline performs better on the night.

“For this, we need to be concentrated, that’s the biggest challenge in this game, to play at the highest concentration level in each second of the game.

“Both teams are pretty good in counter-attacks, both teams are pretty good in possession so we have to defend atthe highest level. The fine detail will make the difference.

“We beat City twice last year but lost the (Capital One Cup) final. They are better since last year but we are better too. We cannot play like last year, they will not play like last year. That’s really exciting.”